Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1873 — Tragedy at Bradford. [ARTICLE]

Tragedy at Bradford.

Last Saturday morning, about half past three o’clock, the people of Bradford, White county, were startled from their slumber by cries of murder proceeding from the residence of Mr. J. C. Herron, a respectable merchant of that place. Mrs. Herron ran out of her house across the street to a neighbor’s, taking w ith her a little girl and a female friend wild had been staying with her for several days. Mrs. llerron had a wound in her forehead, which she said had been inflicted by her husband with a pistol,and that after an unsuccossfu attempt on her life ho had committed suicide. Medical aid was callet to dress the woman’s wound- and neighbors went over to find Mr. Herron, lie was discovered in the privy with four bullets in tho side of his head, one bullet hole in bis left hand, and his throat cut from ear to ear, partially severing liis windpipe but not reaching the jugular veins. When found ho was still conscious and conversed with his son and tho neighbors.— Dr. Ilayinond, of Monticello, was sent lor, and came over, extracted the bullets from Herron’s head and dressed Ins neck. In the bed-room where Herron slept was found his pistol, standing in the corner of the room, muzzle up, with four barrels recently discharged. A razor was found under the bed covered with blood. The bed was disordered and bloody and the pillows were cut in places. While dressing Mrs. Herron’s wound it was ascertained that it was probably not made by a pistol ball, but rather had the appearance of having been inflicted with some sharp instrument. The bullets taken from nefron’s head were all flattened, had not penetrated the skull, and appeared to have been shot from behind, which would have been impoAiblc if d6ne by the victim; and there were no powder marks either on Mr. Herron’s head or that of his wife, which wpuld have b|cen the case had he done the shooting.

—The -pnrties hnd begn married but a short time and were living discordantly. She is represented as a turbulent woman several years younger than liey husband, with a reputation for morals not above suspicion, and for some time past had been quite intimate with a fast young man in the place, named Phillips, whom slio sent for and had a private interview with shortly after her wound was dressed.— Phillips has since left the place. Herron is about fifty years of age, a quiet orderly man, respected by all. It is reported that he told his son only a day or two before the attempt was made that the woifien were conspiring to kill him, broader to get possession of his property; and it is also reported that when found by his son be told him “they did it.” It is also told that he says be cut liis throat and that he supposes be shot himself, but that he did not shoot his wife.. However aliundred reports are rifo—it.i&inipossible to learn the truth, aud the whole affair is wrapped iu mystery.